Hoisting and conveying apparatus.



No. 864,687. PATENTED AUG. 27, 1907'. G. A. FOX & D. DAVIDSON. HOISTINGAND CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.9,1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

mdw

PATENTED AUG. 27, 1907. G. A. FOX & 1). DAVIDSON. HQISTING AND CONVEYINGAPPARATUS.

' APPLIOATION FILED AUG.9, 1906.

' 3SHEBTSSHEET 2.

. \Q A. A \Ah iiiit-.. @mA

G Am. Q N

04 aw Q 5% W/TNESSES No 864,637. PATENTED AUG. 27, 1907. G. A. POX & D.DAVIDSON. HOISTING AND CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.9, 1906.

SSHEETSSHBET 3.

' slack carriage, acts as an auxiliary to pay out or take up I GEORGEALFRED FOX AND DAVlD DAVIDSON, OF TUSTIN, MICHIGAN.

HOISTING AND CONVEYING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 27, 1907.

Application filed August 9,1906. Serial No. 329,858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE ALFRED Fox and DAVID DAVIDSON, both citizensof the United States, and residents of Tustin, in the county of Osceolaand State of Michigan, have inventeda new and Improved Hoisting and(onveying Apparatus, of1which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to hoisting and conveying apparatps, and isparticularly useful in connection with devices of this character for usein connection with logging operations.

The object of the invention is to provide a hoisting and conveyingapparatus, strong, simple and durable in construction, and by means ofwhich heavy objects may be moved from place to place without danger ofaccidentally releasing the same from the holding device. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this classin which a slack ropecarriage is used to pay out or take up thenecessary slack in the fall rope required for the operation intransporting objects from place to place.

The invention consists in the construction of parts to be more fullydescribed hereinafter and, directly set forth in the claims.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is aside elevation showing my invention in operation; Fig. 2 is a verticallongitudinal section of a slack rope carriage and a load carriage usedinmy invention, showing the same in a position just prior to releasing theload; Fig. 3 isa side elevation of the slack rope carriage and the loadcarriage showing parts broken away; Fig. 4 is a front elevation of theslack rope carriage; Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the load carriage;Fig. 6 isan end elevation of a detail; Fig. 7 is a cross section of apart of the load carriage on the line 7--7 of Fig. 3, Fig. 8 isanelevation of a detail and Fig. 9 is an elevation of a detail.

Before proceeding to a more detailed explanation of my apparatus, itshould be understood that I employ a cable or track-way of the usualkind, supported betweenposts or towers, upon which are mounted twocarriages adapted to run upon the same, being supported by groovedrollers. One of these carriages, the load carriage, is the one to whichthe load of logs or other objects is directlysecured, while the other,the

the slack, as will appear hereinafter. The carriages are moved outwardlyfrom the head support by independent outhaulropes and are moved towardthe end support near which the driving engine is located by means of thefall rope, which acts at the same time as an inhaul rope. For the latterpurpose the carriages are provided with catches, by means'of which thefall rope may be secured to them, which catches may be released undercertain circumstances, as will appear hereinafter. The carriages canmove independently of one another, and means are provided for holdingthe slack rope carriage rigid upon the cable-way at a certain point nearthe head support, while the load carriage is traveling towards the loadand drawing with it the necessary slack which is paid oilt through theslack rope carriage. I

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I provide a head support 1and a tail support 1%, which may be either upright poles of wood orproperly constructed towers or of any other form. These supports areadapted to be moved from place to place as the circumstances require. Inthe apparatus shown in Fig. 1, I provide ordinary wooden masts or polesfixed in suitable holes in the ground. Near the head 1 is a movableengine base 2, upon which are located a steam boiler 3 and drivingengine of the usual type, together with a plurality of independent drums4, 5, 6 and 7 adapted to wind up ropes in the usual manner in hoistingengines and the like. The drums are independout and are provided withthe proper clutch mechanism and gearing, by which they way beindependently operated or released from connection with the engine.Mounted between the supports is a cable or track-way 8 of wire rope orother suitable material. The supports are properly guyed by means of guyropes 9 and 10, according to ordinary practice. A sheave 11 is mountednear the upper end of the head support and through this runs a rope 12carrying a pair of lifting tongs 13 at its free end, which is passedthrough a sheave 14 slidably mounted by means of a grooved wheel 15 upona guy rope 9. It will be understood that in logging operations the treesare cut down within a certain area and my apparatus is set up to spanthis area, the object of the device being to carry the logs from variouspoints to a point near the head support, where they may be loaded uponcars, wagons or the like. Thus as the loads carried by the travelingcarriage are deposited near the head support they are picked up 'by.means of the tongslS and deposited upon the vehicles fortransportation..The load carriage comprises side plates 16 and 17, between which nearthe upper edges thereof are mounted grooved wheels 18 which are adaptedto roll upon the cable-way and support the carriage. Between the sideplates and near the lower end of the carriage is a grooved wheel 19 overwhich the fall rope 20 passes, as shown mostclearly in Fig. 2. An outhaul rope 21 passes from the drum 6 to which it is secured through asheave 22, through the slack rope carriage and between a pair of groovedwheels 23 mounted between the side plate 16 and a plate 24 separatedfrom the side plate 16 by blocks 25 and 26 and secured thereto bymeansof bolts 27 and 28. After passing between the grooved wheels 23 theouthaul rope returns through a sheave 29 secured to the tail support,and is fastened to the load carriage by means of an eye 30. It will beunderstood that when the drum 6 is rotated by the engine, the outhaulrope will be wound up drawing the load carriage toward the tail support.A second side plate 31 is separated from the side plate 17 by means ofblocks 32 and is secured thereto by bolts 33. Between the plates 17 and31 are rotatably mounted three grooved wheels 34 fora purpose which willappear hereinafter. Pivotally mounted between the plates 16 and 17 bymeans of a pin 36 is a pawl 35 having a finger 37 normally locatedadjacent to the wheel 19 but permitting the fall rope to pass freelyover the wheel. The arrangement is such that a chain 38 at the end ofthe fall rope and having links wider than the diameter of thesameicannot pahs over the wheel 19 but engages the finger 37 as shownmost clearly in Fig. 2. The pawl 35 has an arm 36 and a notch 37. Aspring 38 mounted upon a pin 39 between the plates and held in ptsitionby a stop 40 normally presses the pawl towards the wheel 19. A rod 41 ispivotally mounted at the end of the arm 36, projects between the platcsof the carriage towards the head support and is held in a substantiallyhorizontal position by resting on the pin 39. By

- forcing the rod 41 inwardly the pawl is pivoted about the pin 36 toraise the finger 37 and to allow the chain to pass freely over the same.A latch 42 having a pointed end is pivoted between the plates upon a pin43, and the pointed end is pressed against the pawl by means of a spring44 mounted upon a pin"45 and held in position by a pin 46 between theplates. When the pawl is raised from the wheel 19- by pivoting it aboutthe pin 36 the end of the latch 42 slips into the notch 37 and holds thepawl from engagement with the wheel, as shown in dotted outline in Fig.3.

At the end of the latch 42 is the pin 43 projecting through a curvedslot 47 in the plate 16 and carrying a grooved wheel 48 at its endbetween the plate 16 and the plate 24. Thus when the latch holds thepawl out of engagement with the Wheel 19 the tightening of the outhaulrope 21, which passes between the plates 16 and 24, raises the said ropeand presses the wheel 48 upwardly, thereby pivoting the latch about thepin 43 and releasing the pawl, to allow the same to be pressed by thespring 38 toward the wheel 19.

The slack rope carriage is formed of side plates 49 and 50, the upperportions of which are outwardly disposed to' form a widened part betweenwhich are pivotally mounted grooved wheels 51 adapted to roll upon thecable-way and to support the carriage. thereupon.

I The upper part of the slack carriage is widened to permit the same topass over a stop 63 upon the cable-way,

which is located at a certain point for a purpose which will appearhereinafter. An offset side plate 53 is secured to the plate 49 by meansof bolts or rivets. R0- tatably mounted between the plates 53 and 49 isa pair of grooved rollers 54, between which the outhaul rope 21 passes.Between an offset plate 55 and the sideplate 50 is mounted a second pairof grooved wheels 56. An outhaul rope 57 is secured to the drum 7,passes over a sheave 58 between the rollers 56 of the slack carriage,and the upper pair of rollers 34 of the load carriage to a sheave 59 onthe tail support, after which it returns through the lower pair ofrollers 34 on the load carriage and is secured to the slack carriage bymeans of an eye 60. When the drum 7 is rotated by the engine the rope 57will be wound up to pull the slack carriage along the cable-way towardsthe tail support. Rotatabl y mounted upon a pivot bolt 62 near the'lowerend of the slack carriage and between the side plates is a grooved wheel61 over which the fall rope 20 passes from the drum 5. A member 64 ispivot-ally mounted upon a pin 65 between the side plates 49 and 50 ofthe slack carriage. The member 64 has a corrugated end 66 adapted topress the fall rope against the grooved wheel 61 to secure the rope tothe slack carriage. A spring 67 mounted upon a pin 68 and held inposition by a pin 69 normally forces the arm 66 towards the wheel 61. Anarm 69 is pivoted to the opposite end of the member 64, projects frombetween the side plates towards the load carriage and is held insubstantially horizontal position by the spring pin 68 and a pin 70thereabove. A rod 71 is pivoted in a recess of the member 64 between thepin 65 and the wheel 61 and has an end 72 projecting from between theplates 49 and 50 towards the head support. Guide pins 73 and 74 maintainthe end 72 in a substantially horizontal position. It will be understoodthat if the end 72 is forced wardly, the member 64 is released from thewheel 61 and the fall rope can pass freely over the same. Simi larly ifthe rod 69 is forced inwardly the rope is released from fixedengagementwith the slack carriage.

A stop 75 is secured upon the cable-way near the head support by meansof U-bolts 76 and cross plates 77 adapted to be rigidly screwed upon therope, as shown in Fig. 8. A U-bolt of this character is secured upon thecable-way at the rear and forward ends of the stop '75 and rigidly holdsthe same upon said cable-way.

The stop 75 comprises a conical casting 78 having a flange 79 to whichis bolted a curved disk 80 having the edge projecting beyond the casting78. The cable-way passes through an opening in the center of the disk 80and a second opening in the end of the casting 78. A catch bar 81 havinga notched end 82 is pivoted between the side plates of the slackcarriage at the upper end of the same. When the slack carriage is runagainst the stop 75 the notched end 82 slips over the edge of the disk80 by reason of its curved lower edge 83 and thereupon the'notch 84engages with the-edge of the disk 80 to hold the slack carriage rigidupon the cable-way; at the same time the end 72 of the rod 71 is forcedinwardly by contact with the surface of the disk and releases the member64 from contact with the fall rope, whereby the latter is free to moveover the wheel 6] At the end of the stop 75 is swiveled an upright 85having a forked upper end 86 and a weighted lower end 87. The cable waypasses through a proper opening in the member 85 which is maintained inan upright position upon the cable-way by reason of a weighted end 87regardless of how the stop 75 may be accidentally turned or otherwisernoved upon the cable-way. Pivotally mounted at the upper end 86 is alever 88. having an e id 89 projectipg towards the disk 80 and adaptedto throw the catch bar upward and free the same from engagement with thedisk when the opposite end 90 of the lever 88 is depressed. A spring 91secured to the end 89 and the upright 85 holds the lever in a normalposition with the end 89 below the edge of the disk. as shown in Fig. 2.The end 90 of the lever is connected by means of a cord 92 to the enginebase 2, where by means-of a tread 93 it may be forced downward by thefoot of the engine driver to release the catch bar 81.

A .cross bar 94 fastened upon the under side of the catch bar 81 restsagainst the upper edges of the side plates of the slack carriage to holdthe catch bar in a substantially horizontal position when the same isfreed from engagement with the disk 80. r

Fig. 2 shows the carriages as they are approaching the head'support witha load and just before the slack carriage comes into engagement with thestop 75. The load is carried by the fall rope 20, the end of which has achain 38 provided, if so desired, with tongs 95 or other means forattaching logs or the like. Suitable means are provided near the end ofthe chain 38 to prevent the same from being accidentally drawn. over thewheel 19 and through the load carriage. Ahook 98 is secured to a chainring near the tongs. By means of. this the tongs can be hung upon therope 20 or on the chain 38 in an inoperative position, as is indicatedin Fig. 9, when the carriage is traveling to the point where a new loadis to be taken up. The hook is adapted to act as a stop to prevent theend of the chain from being accidentally drawn over the wheel 19. Whenthe fall rope is drawn through the load carriage far enough the chain 38at the end of the tall rope comes into engagement with the pawl 35. thefinger 37 holding a link of the chain; thus it the fall rope is releasedthe weight of the load cannot draw the chain throughthe load carriage todrop the load upon the ground, asthe weight of the load itself holds thechain in engagement with the pawl. Near with the stop 75 when thecarriages reach a certain point after traveling with the load to'wardssaid headsupporte As the slack carriage comes into contact with the stopthe catch bar 81 slips over the edge of the disk 80 and secures theslack carriage to the stop, as described above; lat the same time themember 64 is released by the contact of the end 72 with the disk and thefall rope is free to move over the roller 61. As the slack carriage isstopped by contact with the stop the rod 41 of the load carriage comesinto contact with the stop 63 which is properly located for this purposeupon the cable-way. The stop 63' is preferably formed of a U memberhaving a cross bolt 96, as shown most clearly in Figs. 2and 3. ,As therod 41 strikes against the stop 63, the pawl is released irom engagementwith the chain 38, and the fall rope is free to move over the wheel 19without being operatively engaged by the pawl. When the carriages havereached the end of their travel towards the head support and the fallrope is released from attachment to the carriages the engine isstopped,- the drum 5 is released and the load is ready to fall upon theground, where it is freed from the end of the fall rope chain.

In gathering a second load the load carriage is propelled along thecable-way toward the tail support by means of the outhaul rope 2 1. Assoon as the outhaul rope 21' is tightened the latch 42 is released andthe finger 37 returns to its normal position adjacent to, but separatedfrom the wheel 19. As, the slack carriage, however, remains inengagement with the stop 75 the iall rope is free to move throughtheslack carriage. The load carriage is propelled along the cable-wayuntil sufficient slack for the purpose has been drawn through the slackcarriage, when the same is released item the stop 75 by means of thelever 86 actuated by the rope92 and the tread 93. As the slack carriageis released from the stop, the fall rope is again secured to the slackcarriage by means of the member 64, and is thus drawn for ward with theload carriage by means of the fall rope. When the load carriage reachesthe place where the load is to be collected it is stopped and held in,position by means of the outhaul rope 21. The slack carriage is thendrawn up to the load carriage by means of the outhaul rope 57, the slackoi the fall rope being drawn through the load carriage and secured tothe logsor other load, I

the linger 37 permitting the fall rope to pass over the wheel 19. Whenthe load is secured by the tongs at the end of the fall rope chain thefall rope is hauled in through the carriages until the load swings clearof the ground and the chain engages with the pawl; thereupon the fallrope is used as an in-haul rope to draw the slack carriage and the loadcarriage along a cable-way. The chain 38 is provided with a ring toinsure that the chain shall not be inadvertently drawn through the loadcarriage if the weight of the load is not suflicient to prevent-this.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and'desire tosecure by Letters Patent:

1. In a device of the class described, a cable-way, a load carriagemounted to run thereupon, a rope for propelling said carriage, a fallrope, means for securing said fall rope to said carriage, a slackcarriage mounted to run upon said cable-way and having means forliolding said fall rope, and means for locking said slack carriage uponsaid cable way. i

2. In a device of the class described, a cable-way having 51 loadcarriage, and a slack carriage mounted to run thererope, means to securesaid fall rope to euchoi said carriages, means 'for releasing said fallrope when .said can riages reach certain points upon said cable-way, andmeans for releasing said fall rope from said slack carriage when thesaid carriages come into mutual contact.

4. In a device of the class described, a cableavay', having a loudcarriage and a slack carriage mounted. to roll thereupon, ropes topropel said carriages upon said cable-way, .a

fall rope, means to secure said fall rope to each of said carriages,means for releasing said fall rope when said can riages reach certainpoints upon said cableavay, means for locking said-slack carriage uponsaid cable-way, and means for releasing said full rope from said slackcarriage when said carriages are in contact. r

5.In a device of the class described having a cable-way, a load carriageand a slack carriage mounted to roll thereupon, ropes to propel saidcarriages upon said cable-Way, a fall rope, means to secure said fallrope to each of said carriages, means upon said cable-way for lockingsaid slack carriage thereto, and means upon said cable-way for releaswesaid fall rope from said slack carriage when the same I 7. In a deviceof the class described, a cable-way, a slack 1 carriage and a loadcarriage adapted to roll upon said cableway, an outhaul rope adapted topropel said lead carriage,

a fall rope, said carriages having means for holding said i'all rope,and a stop on said cableway to release said fall rope from said loadcarriage, said means for holding said fall rope on said load carriagebeing actuated by said outhaul rope.

8. In a device of the class described, a cable-way, a slack carriage anda load carriage mounted to roll upon said cable-way. ropes adapted topropel said carriages in one direction, a fall rope. means for securingsaid fall rope to said carriages whereby said fall rope is adapted toact as an inhaul rope in the opposite direction from said pro pellingrope, and stops upon said cableavay for releasing said fall rope fromsaid carriages. v

H. In a device of the class described. a cable-way. a slack carriage anda load carriage adapted to roll upon said cableway, ropes adapted topropel said carriages in one direction, a fall rope, means for securingsaid fall rope to said carriages whereby said t'all rope is adapted toact as an inhaul rope in an opposite direction, a stop upon saidcabieavay, means for securing said slack carriage thereto, means forreleasing said fall when said slack carriage is secured to said stop,and means for releasing said slack carriage from said stop manually.

10. In a device of the class described, a cable-way having a slackcarriage mounted to roll thereupon, a stop upon said cable-waypresenting a surface and an edge, a fall rope passing through said slackcarriage, said slack carriage having a catch bar adapted to engage withsaid edge, and a member adapted to secure said fall rope to said slackcarriage, said member having an arm adapted to engage with said surfacewhereby said member is released from said fall rope, and a lever uponsaid stop adapted to disengage said catch bar therefrom.

11. In a device of the class described, a cable-way having a slackcarriage mounted to roll thereupon, said cableway having a stoppresenting a surface and an edge, said slack carriage having a catclrbaradapted to engage with said edge, said stop having a lever pivot-allymounted upon said cabieway and having means'to hold the same inan'upright position, and a spring adapted to hold said lever in a normalposition, said lever being adapted to disengage said catclrbar when theend of said lever is depressed.

12. In a device of the class described, a cableway liaving a slackcarriage mounted to roll thereupon, said cableway having a stoppresenting a surface and an edge, said slack carriage having a catch-baradapted to engage with said edg aud'an upright having a weighted arm andpivoted upon said cableway, said stop having a lever pivotally supportedupon said upright, said weighted arm being adapted to hold said lever inan upright position, said lever having a spring adapted to hold the samein a normal position, said lever further being adapted to disengage saidcatclrbar when an end of said lever is depressed.

13. In a device of the class described, a cable-way having a slackcarriage and a load carriage mounted to roll thereupon, a fall rope,said carriages having means for holding said fall rope, means upon saidcable-way simultaneously for holding said slack carriage and forreleasing said fall rope from said slack carriage, means for propellingsaid load carriage to draw said fall rope through said slack carriage,and independent means for propelling said slack carriage.

14. In a device of the class described, a cable-way hav ing a slackcarriage and a load carriage mounted to roll thereupon, means forsecuring said slack carriage to said able-way, said load carriage havinga grooved wheel, a

scene? fall rope adapted to pass over said grooved wheel and having achain. said slackcarriage having means for securing said fall ropethereto, said load carriage having a pawl adapted to engage said chain,a catch adapted to hold said pawl from engagement with said chain, andan outhaul rope adapted to propel said load carriage upon saidcable-way, said outhanl rope being adapted to release said catch fromsaid pawl.

15. In a device of the class described, a cable-way having a slackcarriage and a load carriage mounted to roll thereupon and havinggrooved wheels, a [all rope passing through said carriages over saidgrooved wheels, said slack carriage having a member adapted to forcesaid fall rope against the grooved wheel and having an arm projectingtoward said load carriage whereby said member is released from said fallrope when said carriages are in contact.

iii, In a device of the class described. a cable-way having a slackcarriage and a load carriage mounted to roll thereupon and havinggrooved wheels, a fall rope passing over said grooved wheels and havinga chain, said load carriage having a pawl adapted to engage said chainand having an arm projecting beyond said load carriage, a stop upon saidcable-Way adapted to engage with said arm whereby said pawl is releasedfrom engagement with said chain, and a catch mounted within said loadcarriage and adapted to hold said pawl from engagement with said fallchain.

17. In a device of the class described, a cable-way having a slackcarriage mounted to roll thereupon, a stop upon said cableway presentingan edge, a catch bar upon said cairiage adapted to engage with saidedge, an upright mounted upon said cable-way having a weighted end, alever at the upper end adapted to displace said catch bar from saidedge, and a spring adapted to hold said lever in a normal position.

18. In a device of the class described, a cableway having a slackcarriage and a load carriage mounted to roll thereupon. ropes to propelsaid carriages upon said cableway, a fall rope passing through the saidcarriages, a stop upon said cable-way, means for securing said slackcarriage to said stop, said slack carriage having a member adapted tosecure said fall rope to said slack car ige, said member having an armprojecting towards said stop and a second arm projecting toward saidload carriage, said arms being adapted to be forced inwardly to releasesaid member from said fall rope, and means for releasing said slackcarriage from said stop.

19. In a device of the class described, a slack carriage and a loadcarriage mounted upon a cableway, said slack carriage having a groovedwheel, a fall rope adapted to pass over said grooved wheel, a pivotedmember having an end adapted to jam said fall rope against said wheel,said member having a spring adapted to force the same against saidwheel, an arm projecting from said slack carriage and being adapted tobe forced inwardly by contact with a stop to release said arm fromengagement with said fall rope, and a second arm projecting from saidcarriage and adapted to be forced inwardly by contact with said loadcarriage to release said member from engagement with said fall rope.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE ALFREDFOX. DAVID DAVIDSON. Witnesses llonnk'r IIANnn, SonoatonIIICKMAN.

